MULTAN: The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has issued an urgent appeal to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to make necessary clearances on an ink cartridge consignment speedily in order to avoid mounting passport production problems, especially in South Punjab region.
The Directorate of Passports wrote a letter to the FBR, which points out that with the vendor delaying it already, this consignment must clear urgently. The shipment is likely to reach Islamabad International Airport shortly. Currently, ink stocks for printing passports are depleted and if not cleared instantly, passport production would have to be halted, leading to further delays in the distribution of the passport across the country.
The Directorate warned that further delays in clearing the ink cartridges would lead to a “national crisis.” They requested clearing the consignment on a deferred payment basis so that passport operations can be resumed without interruption, especially in South Punjab.
Effects on South Punjab:
The delays are causing enormous inconveniences in South Punjab, where many citizens are waiting for their passports. These people have paid for urgent processing; they have been left waiting for months. Many overseas workers that stay in the region look forward to securing jobs abroad; timely passport issuance attracts family members, who work in the Middle East and other foreign countries, and its delay impacts the livelihoods of families.
Delays in customs
The Directorate further emphasized the issue of pending customs duty, which delays its clearance and, as a result, causes delay in the delivery of essential supplies such as ink cartridges. Such supply chain disruption leads to accumulation of undelivered passports, further complicating the matter-this time in South Punjab.
Solution and Request:
As a solution, the Directorate agreed on clearing the customs duties within 15 days and continue printing until it is cleared. However, if this consignment is not cleared soon, the backlog of undelivered passports may increase in a situation that would cause more pains for citizens, especially in South Punjab.
Urging FBR to act swiftly in public interest, the authorities have asked it to clear the necessary supplies like printing ink in time so that delaying increases on the passport crisis.
